INFLUENCES SHAPE FUTURE (KUALA LUMPUR)

Urbanization is a major force, contributing to the development of towns and cities. They function as places where the population concentrates in a defined area, and economic activities locate in the same area or nearby to provide the opportunity for the production and consumption of goods and services in capitalist societies. Consequently, cities provide the context for a diverse range of social, cultural and economic activities in which the population engages, and where tourism leisure and entertainment form major service activities.

In particular with the urban tourism, as what we can see is, Kuala Lumpur exactly can influences and shape the future urban tourism. Accordingly, urban tourism precincts can be defined as ‘an area in which various attractions such as bars, restaurants, places of entertainment or education, accommodation, amenities and other facilities that are clustered in freely accessible public spaces. Tourism precincts by their nature enhance certain aspects of the touristic experience and facilitate social interaction between tourists and locals’.

So, as for the Kuala Lumpur, is exactly can influences and shape the future for urban tourism. This is because, Kuala Lumpur 100% fulfil the needs as for urban tourism needed such as  as bars, restaurants, places of entertainment or education, accommodation, amenities and other facilities that are clustered in freely accessible public spaces. So, Kuala Lumpur can influences and shape the future urban tourism as it’s already fulfil the criteria of urban tourism.

Therefore, the influences that will shape the future urban tourism also can be these markets include: a more educated population, which is attracted to the cultural heritage of cities and towns; seniors, who undertake more sightseeing and are more likely to appreciate cultural and historic heritage; young people, who are attracted by the excitement of the urban environment along with entertainment, night life and sporting events; business travelers; and the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibition market . 

INFLUENCE SHAPE FUTURE (SABAH)

Asia has become a hot bed for tourism growth, earning countries significant foreign exchange from their tourism industries. Sabah’s economic development is heavily predicated on tourism but if Sabah is to remain pristine and intact, Sabah must balance continued development with safeguarding its heritage and environment for future generations.Organisations such as The Sabah Society, Kinabalu National Park, and Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society do much to protect Sabah’s flora, fauna and culture. But efforts need to be taken to a new level by making the protection of the environment an everyday part of our lives and a key consideration in development.

The Sabah Tourism Board, or generally known as Sabah Tourism, is an agency of the Sabah State Government operating under the purview of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment. Sabah Tourism's primary responsibility is the marketing and promotion of tourism for the State.

In the effort of promoting Sabah and in ensuring the success and sustainable growth of the sector, Sabah Tourism is working closely with industry players. The continued effort of Sabah Tourism, with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and industry players, directly contributes to the overall development of the tourism sector on both national and international scale

Situated on the beautiful island of Borneo, Sabah is one of the thirteen states which Malaysia is made of. Sabah is the second largest state in Malaysia and shares the island of Borneo with Sarawak, Brunei, and Indonesian Kalimantan.

Tourism is Sabah’s third largest and one of the important income generating sectors which supports more than 80,000 jobs. Striving to ensure that tourism remains an important economic pillar, Sabah Tourism, continues to promote and market Sabah as a world-class premier eco-tourism destination.

Sabah, Best of Borneo

Sabah is richly blessed with nature diversity, unique cultures, fun adventure, beautiful beaches, and fantastic cuisines for the adventurous taste buds. We have it all, from the world’s largest flower - the Rafflesia, one of the highest mountains in South East Asia - Mount Kinabalu, to one of the world’s top dive sites - Sipadan Island. Sabah is also known for her great natural treasures which include the world-renowned Danum Valley Conservation Area and Tabin which is Sabah’s largest wildlife reserve.

Not only will you be amazed by the places to see and things to do here, you will also be treated with unique Sabahan hospitality. Explore the unique culture and tradition of Sabah and get ready to experience sweet memories to last a lifetime!

Borneo Island

        Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of the Maritime Southeast Asia. This island is divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

Nevertheless, for people outside of Indonesia, “Kalimantan” refers to the area which is occupied by Indonesia on the island of Borneo. Malaysia’s region of Borneo is called East Malaysia or Malaysian Borneo. The independent nation of Brunei occupies the remainder of the island, being the wealthiest of the rest.

Once known as North Borneo, Sabah was under the British colony during the late 19th century till the early 20th century. Sabah gained self-government on the 31st of August, 1963. Sabah, together with Malaya, Singapore and Sarawak formed the Federation of Malaysia on the 16th of September 1963.  At 76, 115 square kilometers large, Sabah is the second biggest state in Malaysia after Sarawak.

People and Culture

        The people of Sabah are known as Sabahans. Sabah is the third most populous state in Malaysia after Selangor and Johor; it also has one of the highest population growth rates in the country.

         There are currently 32 officially recognized ethnic groups in Sabah with the largest non-indigenous ethnic group being the Chinese and the largest indigenous group being the Kadazan-Dusun people. Two other larger ethnic groups in Sabah are the Bajau and Murut, compared to other states in the country; Sabah has relatively very small population of Indians and South Asians.Apart from the Sabahans’ very own diverse mother tongues, Bahasa Malaysia (national language) and English is widely spoken; Mandarin and some Chinese dialects are also widely spoken.

      In Sabah, we greet people by saying “selamat datang” (welcome) and/or “terima kasih” (thank you) with a smile. Due to religious reasons, some may prefer not to have physical contact with others. However, a handshake is generally acceptable as a way of introducing oneself.

It’s customary to remove shoes before entering a mosque as well as homes. In places of worship, visitors are required to dress modestly. Nude sunbathing is not allowed and is very frowned upon. Avoid pointing your index finger at others, as this is considered rude in the local custom.

As the world looks towards the East for future development, Sabah will need to pioneer and model a State worth visiting, investing and living in. Green Village Resorts will champion bamboo building and sustainable material industries in Sabah and combine luxury resort experiences with environmental education in a unique and experiential manner to provide a holiday of a lifetime, not found anywhere else in the world.

INFLUENCES SHAPE FUTURE (KELANTAN)

Urban tourism is the types of tourism which contribute to the economy of a country.  Urban tourism is a destination that has a range of functions to visit by local residents or tourists and domestic visitors from outside. Typically, the tourist attraction of urban tourism in Kelantan is a cultural and heritage resources involves other than as a destination for shopping and recreation.

            The Concept of Kota Bharu Islamic City is one of the influences that will shape the future of tourism. Kota Bharu, Kelantan was declared by the state government as an Islamic City since October 1st, 2005, thus the city is now practicing Islamic principles in every aspect of daily life. Essentially, the urban design of the city is based on the state government slogan, Developing with Islam in the direction of creating a city which could be related to an Islamic identity. The basis of the Kota Bharu Islamic city was to build an environment that consists of three major connections, namely, human with God, human with human, and human with nature. At the same time, the trade and industry spaces in the city will be upgraded to offer greater diversity along with exhorted people respect the nature and having a better understanding of divinity. Therefore, they have provided more religious spaces and buildings for the community, especially for the Muslim community. Then, Kota Bharu, as an Islamic City, represents a symbolic icon in the urban development of the Islamic state of Kelantan, Malaysia. One of the most visible Islamic iconographies is the prevalence of Jawi script which is a modified form of Arabic script used for writing the Malay language in the names of streets, shops, signboards and billboards.

Compared to Kuala Lumpur and Georgetown, cities at the east side generally appear to be more laid back and relaxed.  If Tourist want experience Islamic Malaysia, Kota Bharu is a great place to start. There, it hardly see any western influences (like modern shops or shopping malls). Kota Bharu is very rich with culture; with beautiful and vibrant markets and mosques. It also interesting are the various museums, the old royal palace and former royal buildings in the center of town. Tourist can also visit a buddhist temple where you can look at a huge sleeping buddha; the Wat Pothvihan.

At the same time, the progress of urban's tourism industry was helped by the existence of the unique culture in the state of Kelantan. In view of, Kelantan is a state that has the most unique culture. The unique culture make the increase foreign tourist visit to Kelantan. The unique culture such as mak yong, Dikir Barat and Wau Bulan (kite-flying). In addition, Kelantan is rich in a variety of traditional foods that can be enjoyed by tourists. The famous traditional food in the state of Kelantan are Nasi Kerabu, Nasi Dagang, Nasi Tumpang, Ketupat Palas and a variety of food that will not be found in other states. The uniqueness of this cultural is one of factor influences that will shape the future of tourism.

            It also easy to get kota Bharu, tourist can choose by air, by bus, and by train.  The most popular way to get to Kota Bharu is by air as there are numerous daily flights from Kuala Lumpur. Three airlines operate on this route; Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Firefly. Malaysia Airlines departs from KLIA (domestic), AirAsia departs from LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal) and Firefly departs from Subang Airport. Some of the airlines also fly from other cities within Malaysia to Kota Bharu. Kota Bharu Airport (or Sultan Ismail Petra Airport) is a decent but small airport. Then, Tourist also can choose use bus. The cheapest way to reach Kota Bharu is by coach. There are quite some bus operators that have daily busses driving between Kota Bharu and many other locations within Peninsular Malaysia. Tourist also can choose to travel by train between Johor Bahru in the south of Peninsular Malaysia and Kota Bharu in the north. There is a daily train that travels straight through the jungles in the center of Peninsular Malaysia.

INFLUENCES SHAPE FUTURE (MALACCA)

If the ultra-modern architecture and forward-looking citizens of Kuala Lumpur symbolize Malaysia’s hopes for the future, then the quiet, seaside city of Malacca, about 150 kilometres to the south, is the guardian charged with the reflective task of preserving its past. Five hundred years ago, an extraordinary empire rose and fell here, its power and dreams suddenly caught off-guard by the dawn of the Colonial Era.

            State of Malacca was known as one of the top tourist destinations in Malaysia with its own unique cultural heritage, historic places to visit and of course food and others. Slogan that Visit Historic Malacca means visiting Malaysia is able to give a brief overview of what can be served to tourists by the different races here. Variants of this place as one of Melacca tourists destinations of distinction in the Asia. On July 7, 2008, have also been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage City and is now known as the “Malacca World Heritage City”.

            The city was so coveted by the European powers that the Portuguese writer Barbarosa wrote “whoever is Lord in Malacca has his hand on the throat of Venice”. It was a major port along the spice-route and its harbour bristled with the sails and masts of Chinese junks and spice-laden vessels from all over the hemisphere. Because the city was originally built of wood, there are no crumbling and stately reminders of the power once wielded by the Malaccan Sultanate, but along shores of the Malacca River the scene has probably changed little.

            Malacca is a place where many culture meet and fused. One of the most pronounced influence is the Portuguese architectural that one can see around Malacca. When the Portuguese came in 1511, they built a fort overlooking the river and named it A Famosa. It was built to maintain the Portuguese stronghold across the Far East, to date it is one of the oldest European Architecture present in South East Asia. Besides, The Portuguese Square is also a place to enjoy the Portuguese culture within Malacca. Its located 20 minutes from Malacca town, within the Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir. The square is facing the sea where you can catch a hearty Portuguese food while enjoying the sea breeze.

            Apart from Portuguese influence, there is also Chinese descendant’s settler that have adopted into the local Malay culture through intermarriage, forming the distinct Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum to view the unique carving of furniture and house interior. As mentioned earlier, Malacca is a place where many culture meets. The Stadthuys, which means the Municipal Town Hall in Dutch and it’s the biggest and oldest Dutch building in Southeast Asia, located in Malacca Town Square. It was built when the Dutch took over Malacca from the Portuguese and it took nearly 20 years to completion where the building materials are imported from Netherlands.

            If tourists are an antic lover, Jonker Street will be a perfect place for them. Its pleasant for a slow stroll where they can get delicious local delicacies, Nyonya fashions and shoes as well as cafes and pubs. There are also a few Baba and Nyonya style accommodation in Jonker Street, where tourist can truly experience the living of the ‘Peranakan’, for example The Baba House. Otherwise, there are plenty of hotels around Malacca. Other attractions of Malacca include Marine Museum and Zoo Malacca.

INFLUENCES SHAPE FUTURE(JOHOR)

The major influences that will shape the future of tourism are based on the urban tourism. Johor has been well-known for its city sight and urbanization. There are a few important things that influence the future of tourism in Johor.

The first and foremost is the Johor economic. In 2008, Johor's economy grew in line with Malaysia's economic development. Johor's GDP Growth was 5.2%.The manufacturing sector faced tribulations and several sectors had shown sluggish performance due to a drop in export and weak local markets related to the slow development of the construction sector. The services sector saved Johor's economy. This sector showed continuous growth at an average of 8% as a result of an increase in the transportation sector. This shows that in any condition, the economy still plays a very important role in shaping the future of tourism since the service sector which related to tourism is very dominant.

The next influential factor in shaping Johor tourism is the infrastructure.  The most relevant thing that connects tourists to Johor is of course the infrastructure, which will be including the roads, highways and airport for easy access. One of the major highways in Johor is the East-West Highway,this 75km highway project will link Senai to Desaru, providing a new and faster road link to the east coast of Johor. The highway involved a bridge across the Sungai Johor from Kong Kong on the west to Teluk Sengat in Kota Tinggi. The next one is Pasir Gudang Highway from the new CIQ Complex is being built to disperse traffic away from the Johor Bahru city centre. These highways will cut the time of travelling thus connecting more tourists’ spots.

The second most influential thing is the utilities. Energy provided by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), the national electricity provider operated by the private- sector. It is the largest in the industry with more than RM60.0 billion assets, serving over six million customers throughout all sate in Malaysia. As reported on Oct. 31, 2012, TNB has posted a higher net profit of RM 1 billion in the fourth quarter compared to RM600 million in the third quarter of 2012. By 2013 the company targeted to expand its power resource from solely depending on fuel and coal to LNG. As reported by TNB their LNG based power plant could be ready by the first quarter of 2013. These plants which providing energy to power the state is virtue since it is the core that is empowering all of the system and infrastructure in Johor.

Lastly, but just as important in other to shape the future tourism in Johor is the population. The people who resides Johor, they are very important since they the one who will provide services for tourists; they are the one doing the maintenance and keeping the place generated. Johor's population, estimated at 3.17 million in 2006, is projected to grow to 4.4 million by 2020. In terms of ethnic breakdown, the Malays (Bumiputeras) comprise 54%, Chinese (33%) and Indians (6%). The active workforce in Johor was increased by 2.43% per year between 1991 and 2000. During this 9 year period, a total of 256,900 job opportunities were created, while unemployment dropped from 3.3% in 1991 to 2.3% in 2000.The availability of manpower, in fact, is projected to grow further by 2.88% between now and 2020. Unemployment is also projected to decline from 2.3% in 2000 to 2.0% in 2020.

In conclusion, the future of tourism lies in the hands of all of these factors combined. As an urban tourism area, it is vital for Johor to keep at pace with the continuous advancement of technology and infrastructure for the sake of its future.